How Can We Live More Safely with Earthquakes? Safer Arrangements at Home

Many injuries during earthquakes are caused by objects that fall or move as the building shakes. Protecting ourselves and our families means minimising these hazards by securing furniture and placing it appropriately. Here are precautions to take at home.

• Make an inventory of your home and workplace.
• Keep important documents and valuables—such as title deeds, identity cards, bank books, insurance papers, diplomas, passports, jewellery and money—in sturdy, waterproof boxes or envelopes in a safe place. Make paper and digital copies of documents, and leave another set with a contact outside your region.
• Do not place objects that could topple near doors.
• Keep emergency escape routes clear and ready for use. Remove obstructions and secure any items along the route. Exits should be wide, with doors that open outwards and remain unlocked. Automatic rechargeable lighting should illuminate these routes during a power cut.
• Prepare an emergency supply kit for the aftermath of an earthquake, with enough water, food and other essentials for at least 72 hours. Keep it somewhere easily accessible in the area where you spend most of your time.
• Use automatic gas shut-off and electrical protection systems to address gas or electrical faults and the resulting fire risk.
• Keep a fire extinguisher firmly mounted on a wall in an accessible location known to everyone. Have it serviced regularly by the relevant provider, whether you live in a detached house or an apartment.
• Arrange earthquake insurance.

Remember: during moderate or stronger shaking, the movement of furniture depends on its size, weight, fittings and location. Furniture whose height exceeds 1.5 times its width or depth, top-heavy furniture, units on wheels and books on shelves are among the items at risk (AFAD, 2011).

• To reduce fire risk, ensure all electrical kitchen appliances are installed correctly and completely. Repair faulty appliances and check their condition regularly.
• Store bottled food and breakable glass or porcelain items in closed base cabinets, preferably with locks.
• Fit elastic restraints across the fronts of shelves, and place small objects such as spice jars in boxes so they cannot collide or topple.
• Give sharp utensils dedicated places for use and storage. They can be secured on a utensil board in a separate part of the kitchen.
• Secure cabinet bodies and shelves both vertically and horizontally. Non-slip shelf liners can help prevent contents from sliding during shaking.
• Choose lockable push-pull closures for drawers and cabinet doors, and use hinges with stops.
• Choose slip-resistant flooring to reduce falls and accidents caused by loss of balance during shaking.
• Use and secure metal brackets beneath small appliances that could slide off the worktop.
• Secure all large appliances against toppling, whether they are built in or freestanding.

• Do not install heavy storage units such as bookcases or cupboards on the wall above your bed. Avoid hanging pictures or mirrors there.
• Pay attention to furniture placement. Keep beds and sofas away from windows and heavy cupboards that could fall onto them. Position tall furniture away from places where it might block the exit route.
• Secure items kept permanently on top of cupboards so they cannot slide off, or move them inside closed cabinets.
• Secure all wardrobes, chests of drawers and dressing tables in bedrooms or dressing rooms to the wall or to other cabinets.
• Fit mechanical locks to cabinet doors where heavy objects are stored, and replace broken locks.

An earthquake may, of course, catch us at work, at school, in a shop or on public transport rather than at home. Create emergency plans suited to the places where you spend time, and practise them regularly. Review these plans every six months to reflect changes in your life and surroundings.